Náměšť na Hané Chateau

The Náměšt na Hané Chateau will catch your eye at first glance with its unique layout – it is surrounded by a round park with a road, and linden avenues projecting from the park to all four sides. With a bit of a stretch, one could say that it is, in fact, a large natural compass and one of the largest and oldest roundabouts in Europe. Located upon a hill, the chateau offers panoramic views of the surroundings, including the city of Olomouc.

The chateau was built in the 1760s by Count Ferdinand von Harrach as a “greenfield” project. Through marriage, the chateau soon came into the possession of the House of Kinský who grew fond of Náměšť, as evidenced by the fact that they had their family tomb built in the local cemetery. They ultimately sold the chateau to ironmonger František Ottahal who owned it until the nationalisation in 1945. Today, the chateau is the property of the township of Náměšť na Hané.

The Neo-Classicist chateau, inspired by French architectural influences, boasts richly decorated Rococo interiors presenting the lifestyle of high aristocracy. The supreme examples of this style are the decorations and ornate furniture in the Golden Parlour, with a collection of Meissen porcelain. The porcelain and furniture were part of the set of Miloš Forman’s film, Amadeus. The furniture is also featured in a TV mini-series about Maria Theresa. The chateau is home to two Archbishop’s carriages – the golden ceremonial carriage of the first Archbishop of Olomouc, Antonín Theodor von Colloredo-Waldsee, and the black travel coach of Archbishop František Salesky Bauer.

Visitors can choose from 4 guided tours, during which they can visit the nearby Empire-style chapel or the remains of a medieval castle. The chateau hosts a number of cultural events for all generations, such as the flower festival Flowers for the Castle Lady, children’s events such as An Afternoon with Večerníček and From One Fairy-Tale to Another, and an extraordinary experience – night-time spooky tours.